The two decisions of the U.S. administration – recognizing the Golan Heights as Israeli territory and the decision to move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem – indicate that the Netanyahu and Trump administrations are forcing the limits of a regional war in the Middle East, which would have devastating consequences for all across the globe.

Although the mainstream media interpreted these decisions as an election ‘gift’ from Trump to Netanyahu, the decisions seem to go beyond a simple support for the latter’s re-election. Speaking to The New Turkey, Associate Editor of The Electronic Intifada Asa Winstanley argued that these two internationally illegal decisions of Trump were not just direct gifts to Netanyahu, but in the first place, a favor to his close friend and the main financial backer of his campaign, Sheldon Adelson, a billionaire casino owner in the U.S.

Trump wanted to make not only Netanyahu happy but also Sheldon Adelson, a billionaire casino owner in the U.S., Trump’s close friend and the main financial backer of his campaign.

Winstanley describes Adelson as one of the main funders of the Israeli lobby in the U.S. and an individual who is on the far-right of that lobby. He has close relations with Trump and therefore the President is making Adelson happy as a way of paying off his generous donations to Trump’s presidential campaigns.

Speaking to The New Turkey, Haydar Oruc, researcher at Sakarya University Middle East Institute, argues that considering the previous decisions made by Trump in support of the State of Israel since the beginning of his presidency, the Golan Heights and Jerusalem decisions should not come as a surprise.

As one of the important promises of his presidency, Trump has been talking about solving the Palestine-Israel conflict with the ‘deal of the century,’ conducted by his son-in-law and chief-advisor Jared Kushner. Trump has appointed David Freeman, a right-wing Jewish American outside of the Foreign Office, and a supporter of the Israeli settlements, as the Ambassador to Israel.

For years, the U.S. administration has approved and conducted practices proposed by the Israel administration and has further isolated the Palestinians in the international community. Cutting the UNRWA fund for Palestine, closing the Palestinian authority office in Washington, forcing Arab regimes in the region to cooperate with Israel, putting pressure on the International Criminal Court in order to prevent Israel from trial, and rejecting decisions against Israel at the UN Security Council are just some examples of U.S. behavior before recognizing the Golan Heights as Israeli territory.

Haydar Oruc recalls the remarks of Israeli politicians during the opening ceremony of the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem, who described Trump as the Persian Emperor Cyrus and blessed him for bringing Jews to the promised lands after 2000 years. Both some Jewish and Evangelical figures described these events and the presidency of Trump as ‘miracles’ promised in their holly book. Oruc added that although it is difficult to believe, what is happening at the moment is merely attempts of some fanciful Jewish-Evangelical Zionists in parallel with their beliefs.

The strong support that the Israeli government provides for Trump is not coincidental when one considers the actions of previous administrations in Washington. During the last period of the Obama administration, an anti-Saudi approach had been followed. First, the nuclear agreement was signed with Iran and then a U.S. court decided to freeze Saudi accounts in the U.S. due to possible connections with the 9/11 attacks. When the U.S. administration under Obama made moves to pave the way for Iran, there were rumors of U.S. pressure on a regime change in Saudi Arabia.

This approach not only troubled Saudi Arabia but the pro-Iran approach also caused distress within the Israeli administration. Thus, Trump’s presidential campaign received rigorous funds from individuals in Israel and the Gulf – which is why he made official visits to these two regions after he got elected as U.S. President.

Haydar Oruc recalls the ‘glowing orb’ incident at the opening ceremony of the Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology during Trump’s first foreign visit as the President of the U.S. in Saudi Arabia. A couple of days after the picture with Trump, Saudi King and Sisi around the orb, the Gulf Crisis kicked off, and the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Bahrain began implementing isolationist policies against Qatar. This regional Arab bloc in the south that has been crystalized since the beginning of the crisis has not merely been established only against Qatar. The south Arab bloc consolidated by the U.S. and Israel is against another bloc on the north, which consists of Iran, Qatar, and Turkey.

Zionists have been using the motto ‘maximum land, minimum Arabs’ since the establishment of the State of Israel.

Can these developments and the fateful alliance between the current U.S. evangelical administration and Zionist Israel lead to a regional war? Asa Winstanley believes that a regional war is unlikely to occur in the future, however, adds that one can never count out the possibility. According to him, Zionists have been using the motto ‘maximum land, minimum Arabs’ since the establishment of the State of Israel. Therefore, the annexation of the Golan Heights, declaring Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and the future plan of annexing the West Bank should be seen as other examples of this strategy.

Haydar Oruc claims that in order to comment on a possible regional war it is first necessary to analyze whether or not global powers would directly get involved in such a war. Otherwise, it is not realistic to expect Israel – despite being a nuclear power – together with the south bloc of Arab regimes to counteract Iran. And if you add Turkey next to Iran, the task becomes almost impossible. Since the beginning of the Arab Spring in 2010, the civil wars that erupted in Syria, Yemen, and Libya, together with the tensions in Iraq, Lebanon, Algeria, Egypt, Sudan, and Palestine, are all signs of an on-going covert war in the region.

Independent from this turmoil in the region, it is unlikely for the south-bloc Arab regimes and Israel alone to attack Iran or any other target directly. Instead of a military offense, embargoes supported by the U.S., political pressure, and attempts of regime change through popular uprisings in target countries seem like more convenient tactics to utilize. However, Haydar Oruc adds that in the case of the involvement of global powers in the process, it is more likely to see conflicts in the region whether or not you call it regional war in the traditional sense.

The scrupulousness of Israeli and American political actors is the source of the ongoing illegalities and any possible armed conflict in the region.

Asa Winstanley describes the ultimate goal of Israel as maximum land with minimum Arab population. He adds that they are pursuing this goal step-by-step in the West Bank, first targeting the less populated areas. This has been the strategy of Israel since 1948. However, Winstanley highlights that there is a current rise of extremists in Israel, who will play a future role in the government. According to him, Zionists are becoming more extreme and some extremists even suggest the demolition of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and building a Jewish synagogue in the same location.

Haydar Oruc underlines that unfortunately there are many indications of an ‘Armageddon’ projection of Christian and Jewish Zionists. Analysis on symbolic dates, locations and people, indicate the existence of such a utopian intention. Even though it may sound irrational, he says, it is important to accept the situation and develop policies accordingly.

There are not many signs to be optimistic about things turning around if immediate actions are not taken by both regional and international actors. The scrupulousness of Israeli and American political actors is the source of the ongoing illegalities and any possible armed conflict in the region, since they have direct power to influence decision makers both in Israel and the U.S.

The Middle East has undergone a massive transformation since the Arab uprising erupted in 2011. The Arab uprising initially rooted from people’s search for democracy, equality, and justice, noting that none of them have ever been at the core of politics since the Western intervention in the region took place. However, the nature of the Arab uprising dramatically transformed itself towards pervasive insecurities and chaos in the Middle East, especially after the spread of radicalization — particularly in the case of Daesh, the conflict-spillover effects of the Syrian Civil War, and the fall of democracy in the Arab world.

Today, from Libya to Yemen, the main characteristic of the new disorder in the Middle East is the proliferation of violent non-state armed groups, the deterioration of state structure, the rise of radical extremism, and the deepening geopolitical antagonism among states, ethnic, and religious groups. This new phenomenon resulted in state insecurity, regime insecurity, societal insecurity, and most importantly, in human insecurity across the region. Each of these outcomes indicate that the very nature of the Middle East order has been undermined by internal, regional and international actors. The new stage highlights that we are at a point where the Middle East is gradually falling into a new wave of crisis, especially after Trump’s accession to power in the U.S.

Trump and his so-called comrades in the Middle East are destroying the region that we know. This is the rise of a new geopolitical era in the Middle East political landscape that has been undergoing a transitional period of a new regional order without principles, rules, and norms. The new order in the Middle East is a product of reckless diplomacy of the Trumpian narrative of international politics. At the very heart of this Trumpian diplomacy lies diplomacy working without diplomats and law functioning without the international norms assembled around the United Nations after World War II.

The Palestinian case is an excellent textbook example to see how Trumpian diplomacy works without diplomats and law without paying respect to international norms in the Middle East. Trump’s decision to relocate the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Al-Quds and the recognition of Jerusalem as the eternal capital of the so-called Jewish State signifies the very nature of Trumpian diplomacy. Additionally, the presence of Trump’s daughter, Ivanka Kushner, and her husband, Jared Kushner, at the opening ceremony of the U.S. embassy manifested how U.S. diplomacy is withdrawing itself from the scene and giving its place to Trumpian diplomacy without diplomats.

As it is mostly believed, Trump’s Israel policy is not a construction of the U.S.’s realpolitik interests in the Middle East; it is a product of the global civilizational conflict perception in which the Christian right, evangelical/fundamentalist Christians and the Orthodox Jewish community in the U.S. are at the center of. The evangelical pastor Robert Jeffress’s invocation at the opening ceremony showed how the judgment above portrays the very nature of this perception. Many people can easily recall Jeffress addressing Muslims as “heretics” in several of his speeches. At this stage, it is not necessary to examine how Trump disregards international law and norms, since Trumpian diplomacy does not consult international norms.

The way in which Trumpian diplomacy destroys the Middle East is not limited to Trump’s messianic decision about Al-Quds. The U.S. secession from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), or the Iran Deal, sealed by the international community, in which the U.S. was an integral part, are other outrageous examples that demonstrate how Trumpian diplomacy undermine  international norms. The Iran deal was a diplomatic success in 2015. Now it invokes a diplomatic ignorance caused by U.S. policy in the Middle East. However, this time round, diplomatic ignorance is not only caused by Trump himself – it is also the consequence of an intra-regional antagonism implemented by Israel to undermine the existing intra-regional balance against itself. For sure, Iran is not the champion of regional stability, but the termination of the Iran Deal is not the best realistic way to contain Iran’s destabilizing role in the Middle East. Calling off the Iran nuclear deal also attempts to undermine Iranian people. It accelerates Iranian politics towards a more radical line.

Another example to see how Trumpian diplomacy destroys the Middle East is the commitment to protect the PKK-YPG’s (which is listed as a terrorist organization by the U.S. itself) interests in northeastern Syria. This commitment indicates the Trump administration’s way of doing diplomacy without diplomats, as well. While the role of military disagreements in Turkish-American relations, particularly the case of the U.S.-PKK connection, shows the decline of diplomacy, it also demonstrates how a tactical concern can become a guideline for overall diplomatic strategy. In addition to that, the increasing rapprochement between the U.S. and the PKK proves the cliché of international politics that one man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter.

These three examples clearly demonstrate that Trump is demolishing the Middle East that we know by undermining the nature of diplomacy firstly, and secondly, by triggering the regional antagonism among the countries in the region. While destroying the historical status of Al-Quds makes the region more conflictual, demonizing Iran generates more instability for Middle Eastern countries. On the other hand, undermining Turkey’s national security by supporting a terrorist organization endangers U.S. interests in Syria and Iraq. Trump’s diplomacy is the new reality for the Middle East, which has perhaps struck the region via a new wave of crisis. Trump and his team are against international law, norms and diplomacy. The people who serve Trumpian diplomacy are ultra-radical, neocon and pro-interventionists. This is very dangerous for the Middle East. When the other ultra-radical leaders in the region are taken into consideration, the region’s future does not appear to be bright.

There were two images broadcast to the world last week that illustrated the end of the U.S. role in the Middle East peace process as we know it. The contrast between celebratory images of the opening of the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem and the disturbing images of violence from Gaza was deeply unsettling. They were not only a reminder of the failed U.S. policy, but more importantly, an illustration of what might be in store for the region as a result of the Trump administration’s “disruptive” policies. If the Jerusalem decision is any indication, the administration’s next moves in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will be to embrace and fully endorse the Israeli demands without any regard to the Palestinian aspirations, which can only bring about more violence and instability.

The administration has touted its unilateral Jerusalem move as honoring a long-held American promise and a recognition of the reality on the ground. That reality, however, is one that has been created by Israel under the watch of successive U.S. administrations. Israel has rarely, if ever, negotiated in good faith, always blaming the Palestinians for the failure of the by now defunct “peace process.” U.S. efforts to stop or even slow down the settlement activity proved futile in the past and the Trump administration is not even interested in trying. The U.S.’ Jerusalem recognition fits the pattern of Israel getting its way by deepening its occupation without giving up anything that would serve peace.

The U.S., as the only power that could exact a serious cost on the Israeli intransigence, is now choosing to sign on to a common cause with the Netanyahu government, which intends to destroy any Palestinian political aspirations. Holding Hamas responsible for Gaza’s plight while ignoring the Israeli attacks on Palestinian demonstrators along the Gaza border last week is a convenient tool of denying any legitimacy to Palestinian demands. The Trump administration as well as the U.S. Congress seem to have signed on to this approach. This is clearly siding with the Israeli agenda rather than recognizing the reality of the ever-deepening occupation.

President Trump delivered two major victories – withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal and the Jerusalem move – to the Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu within a matter of weeks without any Israeli concessions toward peace. With the Jerusalem move, he is delivering a major promise to its Evangelical supporters as well. Divisions and the muted response by the Arab world is all too clear and no regional power besides Turkey seems interested in supporting Palestinian aspirations in any serious way. Many commentators have pointed out the lack of strong reaction against the Jerusalem move and they may be right to a certain extent. However, the abandoning of the U.S. role in the peace process once and for all only confirms those who have argued all along that the U.S. is only interested in advancing and protecting Israel’s agenda.

The silver lining in the Jerusalem decision could have been that the U.S. no longer pretends to be an honest broker of peace. However, the administration continues to claim that the Jerusalem decision will actually serve peace and they have a plan to achieve it. The administration’s mysterious “peace plan” will likely be a unilateral one, receiving the support only of some of the Gulf nations and Israel. The Palestinian cause matters in the Middle East and it will not be resolved with the acquiescence of a few Arab nations to a unilateral declaration by the Trump administration.

The Jerusalem move reminds us that the U.S. role in the region under Trump promises to exacerbate existing fault lines and worsen conflicts. Trump has actually acknowledged the bankruptcy of the U.S. policy on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict but in such a way as to heighten tensions without a viable peace plan. The region as a whole has to live with a reality where the U.S. not only fails to provide leadership but reduces its role to supporting the Israeli cause with a few regional backers. A U.S. policy designed to appease the American evangelicals and the Netanyahu government can only spell further disaster.

On December 6, 2017, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. formally recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and stated that the U.S. embassy in Tel Aviv will be moved to the Holy City. While Trump originally stated that this move would occur in the space of two years, the official opening of the U.S. embassy occurred yesterday.

In the immediate aftermath of the decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, the matter was convened to the United Nations General Assembly with the leadership of Turkey, on the basis that this move was against UN Security Council resolutions and was a matter that would lead to more conflict in the region.

Despite calls from leaders across the world, including U.S. allies in Europe, the Trump administration decided to ignore these calls, and went so far to threaten UN states that the U.S. will stop “funding” countries that will vote against them. Apart from threatening member states at the General Assembly, in response to Palestinians who pulled back from the negotiating table and stated that the U.S. had no room in the “peace process,” the U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, stated, “The President has basically said he doesn’t want to give any additional funding, or stop funding, until the Palestinians agree to come back to the negotiation table.”

U.S. opens new embassy

Despite all the chaos caused and the protests that occurred worldwide against the U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, the Trump administration officially opened their new embassy in the city.

Both Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner, arrived for the opening of the embassy on Monday 13 May. President Trump himself was not there.

During the opening of the ceremony, protests broke out across Gaza. 58 protesters have been killed and 2,700 have been injured. While the Israeli security forces have maintained their excessive use of force, 14 May, 2018, can be described as the bloodiest single day for Palestinians since 2014.

While this bloodshed drew calls for restraint from some countries, including France and the U.K., Turkey called it a “massacre,” and declared a three day national mourn.

Nakba

15 May, 1948, also known as “Nakba Day” or the “Catastrophe” marks the day of the displacement of Palestinians when the Israeli state was founded.

Protests will apparently increase all across the world with the commemoration of the Nakba, and the ongoing violence utilized by the Israeli government.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called for an emergency OIC meeting and there will be a mass gathering on Friday at Yenikapi in protest of the terror committed by the Israeli state.

Despite the high-profile participation, the fact that the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Bahrain sent low-ranking representatives to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit held in Istanbul on 13 December, 2017, upon the call of President Erdogan, caused heated discussions in Turkey and the region. UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah bin Zayed’s slanderous remarks about Fahreddin Pasha, who defended Medina during the siege of the holy city during World War One, revealed the UAE’s discomfort about Turkey’s historical responsibility for holy lands, especially Jerusalem. In this respect, discussions surrounding the UAE and Saudi position on the Jerusalem crisis, the Arab Spring, and the normalization of relations with Israel have become increasingly deepened.

The intersection of UAE and Israel policies

Criticized for its attitude towards the Jerusalem crisis, the UAE was also against the demands voiced during the Arab Spring and the political actors that the process produced. The UAE and Israel’s discomfort towards these demands and anti-Iranian notions have transformed into a synchronized foreign policy vision that support each other. While anti-Iran notions were on the rise in the Gulf, there was an increasing irritation in Israel towards the political actors of the Arab Spring. Therefore, in both the UAE and Israel, a foreign policy targeting Iran and the Arab Spring became apparent. The friendship between UAE Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed – the most prominent representative of this vision – and Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman inevitably contributed to the rise of the latter. The crises created by Iran’s sectarian policies in Iraq and Lebanon became tools of legitimization for both the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

The UAE’s support and the UAE Ambassador to the U.S. Yousef Al Otaiba’s lobbying in favor of Salman rendered Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince a reputable ally of Washington. Mohammed bin Salman met with U.S. President Donald Trump on May 14, 2017, before he even became Crown Prince. His close relations with Trump’s son-in-law and advisor, Jared Kushner, could be understood from the meetings that lasted for hours. Therefore, a common vision towards the region was established between the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel and the United States. By pursuing various initiatives, Salman and Zayed persuaded both Egypt and Bahrain to join this alliance. Kuwait, on the other hand, preferred to remain outside of this pact, taking a different position on the embargo imposed on Qatar and the recent Jerusalem crisis.

Israel would welcome any step taken away from the Palestine cause by the UAE or Saudi Arabia. While until recent events Saudi Arabia had expressed that normalization of relations with Israel depended on the resolution of the Palestine-Israel conflict, this prerequisite began to be a burden for the Kingdom, as the administration decided to normalize relations with Israel before any solution to the conflict. For this reason, the alliance formed between the UAE and Saudi Arabia – which seems to be welcomed by Israel and the U.S. – sent low-ranking officials to the OIC summit in Istanbul. The discomfort expressed by this alliance in regards to Ankara’s initiative in aiming to preserve the status of Jerusalem was clearly expressed through various statements made by the UAE’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Pressure on Palestine: “Accept the U.S. plan!”

Perceiving Qatar as a threat to the domination of their foreign policy framework in the region, the embargo applied on Doha was a precautionary measure taken by the Saudi-UAE alliance in order to prevent any possible opposition. However, with the support of Turkey, Qatar resisted. As listed within the sanctions imposed on the country, Qatar was demanded to withdraw its support from Hamas, a prominent actor within the Palestinian resistance movement. This clearly indicated that the embargo aimed to undermine the resistance movement in Palestine.  Moreover, allegations that the Saudi-UAE alliance attempted to force Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to refuse an alliance with Hamas under any conditions and to accept Jared Kushner’s so-called “Peace Plan” were widely covered in the press.

While Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro personally attended the OIC summit organized in Istanbul on December 13, 2017, as a response to the U.S. decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, Saudi Arabia was represented at the same summit with a deputy minister. While the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt were represented by their ministers of foreign affairs, Kuwaiti Emir Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah attended the summit in person. In this respect, the attitudes displayed by Saudi Arabia and the UAE towards the OIC extraordinary summit were not spontaneous, but were a mere reflection of an order desired after the Arab Spring. The absence of Bahraini and Egyptian leaders also re-iterate the position of these two states within the Saudi-UAE alliance.

The fact that 24 officials from Bahrain visited Israel immediately after Trump’s Jerusalem decision led to intense criticism of the regime. The Sisi regime on the other hand, while maintaining its close relations with the government of Israel, continues to preserve its strategic partnership with the UAE – a state that provided the means for the military regime to consolidate its power in Egypt.

In comparison to the states that took sides with the Saudi-UAE alliance, Kuwait approached both the Qatar crisis and the normalization period with Israel from a very different perspective. During the International Parliamentary Union (IPU) meeting held in Russia on October 18, 2017, Kuwait’s Parliamentary Spokesman Marzouq al-Ghanim called the Israeli delegates “child murderers” and demanded they leave the session.

In a letter written to Ghanim, Kuwaiti Emir Al-Sabah endorsed how the actions of Ghanim were to be proud of, adding that his attitude at the IPU was “reflective of Kuwait’s consolidation with its Palestinian brothers.” These developments highlight how Kuwait views the clandestine lobbies in the Gulf, which attempt to normalize relations with Israel. Moreover, under Ghanim’s patronage, the “Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions” (BDS) movement, an organization founded to boycott the apartheid state of Israel, organized its first regional Anti-Normalization Conference in Kuwait.

Attempting to normalize relations with Israel through shared anti-Iran notions, the UAE and Saudi Arabia failed to establish the alliance they desired in the Gulf due to the resistance displayed by Qatar and Kuwait. Attitudes of the aforementioned countries during the OIC summit in Istanbul created fervent discussions about the legitimacy of both the UAE and Saudi Arabia’s regional policies. Despite going against a U.N. resolution, by designating Israel’s ambition to legitimize Jerusalem as its capital city as one of his main foreign policy aims, Trump has caused a particular isolation of the U.S. in world politics, which has never been experienced in the country’s history.

The failure of the Saudi-UAE axis in regards to the Jerusalem issue illustrates the fact that this group is in search for an order in the region, which includes the re-design of the Palestine-Israel issue. The embargo imposed upon Qatar, Mohammed bin Salman becoming the Crown Prince, dismissals within Saudi Arabia and the Jerusalem decision could be interpreted as signs of a new order. Israel prefers the region to be secluded and in conflict with its own people rather than an order in which leaders satisfy the demands of their citizens, transfer power peacefully, are integrated with the world and provide social welfare and freedoms. This can be clearly observed in countries that ally with the UAE-Saudi axis, which nevertheless act in accordance with Israel. The Sisi regime is on the verge of chaos and economic bankruptcy in Egypt, Khalifa Haftar has undermined the political resolution proposed by the U.N. in Libya, and Saudi Arabia’s intervention in the civil war in Yemen has deepened the crisis rather than solving it. All these facts hint at a future that the foreign policy of the UAE-Saudi alliance provides.

Ultimately, substantial reactions towards Israel and the U.S. in terms of the Jerusalem decision will not hinder the UAE and Saudi Arabia’s attempts to expand their alliance together with Israel. These countries will continue to cooperate and will continue to stand against the countries that oppose the destructive policies of both the U.S. and Israel. It is not difficult to assert that the U.S. and Israel will support Arab countries that can adjust to the Jerusalem decision. Thus, for this reason, we have entered a new era that will lead to substantial transformation in the region.

During the vote on a resolution proposed to the United Nations General Assembly on December 21, 2017, which condemned U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to declare Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, we witnessed the triumph of humanity’s conscience over power in spite of all threats coming from the U.S. administration.

While an overwhelming majority of U.N. member states who attended the vote voted in favor of the resolution, dismissing Trump’s decision as null and void, only seven countries alongside the U.S. and Israel voted against the resolution. These seven states include four small countries located in the Pacific, Togo in Africa and Guatemala and Honduras in the U.S., which is a clear demonstration of the extent to which Washington and Israel have become isolated in world politics in relation to this decision.

Many comments can be made upon the proposed resolution, and a great deal have been made already. However, it is important to assess the meaning of the resolution in regards to U.S. hegemony in international politics.

The decision drawn from the U.N. General Assembly is the accomplishment of Palestine, Yemen and Turkey, who brought the issue to the agenda of the organization. Turkey exerted serious and determined diplomatic efforts in order to enable support for the draft resolution despite pressure from Washington. Ankara’s position on this issue is a tangible result of “the world is bigger than five” discourse, which has been repeatedly asserted by the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. In other words, the Jerusalem issue became a platform in which Turkey was able to utilize its long-standing discourse of objecting to the privileged positions of certain U.N. members who hamper solutions for international conflicts – initially going against the main reason why the organization was established. Turkey addressed the conscience of the international community and achieved to impose substantial political pressure on the Trump administration by conveying the draft that was vetoed by the U.S. at the U.N. Security Council to the U.N. General Assembly, which has a relatively fairer decision-making mechanism.

Apart from Muslim countries, major components of the Western alliance such as France, Germany, Britain and Italy voted in favor of the resolution, which is reflective of the fact that Europe has been experiencing a divergence in the face of the Trump administration. By supporting the resolution, European leaders uncomfortable with Trump’s “I say I do” mentality, not only underlined their discomfort but also stood against the U.S. President’s decision to drag the Middle East into greater chaos. Unlike the United States, the European Union neighbors the Islamic world through the Middle East and North Africa, and therefore the bloc tends to refrain from taking steps that would lead to a crisis in current relations. This does not change the fact that most of the European countries side with Israel in the Arab-Israeli conflict – they just prefer to do this without causing a stir like Trump.

Aside from opting to use military and economic power, another fact revealed by the U.N. General Assembly’s Jerusalem decision is that diplomacy can be a very effective tool in international relations. Although the U.S. – the greatest military and economic power in the world – tried to intimidate U.N. members, it only received support from seven countries. This very fact demonstrates the extent to which diplomacy can be influential against power-bullying.

Many Christian countries supported the resolution much more than a number of Muslim countries. This illustrates that forming various alliances within foreign policy is a more functional approach in comparison to a standard generalized point of view. In this framework, Turkey achieved what the U.S. – who has immense diplomatic power – could not do. Through its effective diplomatic efforts, Ankara managed to gain support from other leading countries across the world on the issue of Jerusalem, thus leaving Washington to squabble in a substantial political defeat.

It is reasonable to assert that as long as Washington maintains its arrogance and as long as other countries continue to stand against this attitude, the Jerusalem issue may possibly bring the end of U.S. hegemony. If Muslim countries end the conflicts between them and join forces around the issue of Jerusalem, they can stabilize U.S. military and economic power, and if they form alliances against the arrogant policies of Washington, they will suffice to bring the end of American hegemony in world politics and will find themselves respectful positions in the new system.

In a strong response to the US recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and the subsequent threats by the world’s superpower against those who chose to dismiss the US recognition, two-thirds of the UN General Assembly members voted against the US unilateral decision as “null and void.”

128 countries voted in favor of the resolution which called on the US to drop its support for the expansion of the Zionist state into Jerusalem. 35 members abstained and only 9 members, otherwise unknown client states of the US, namely Togo, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Marshall Islands, Guatemala and Honduras, voted against the resolution along with the US and Israel. 21 states did not cast their vote at all.

Though the resolution adopted on Thursday is non-binding, its support by the majority in the General Assembly suggests a symbolic support for the Palestinian cause and simultaneously a rejection of the US power on which the Israeli state has been riding so long recklessly.

The high support for the resolution at the UNGA – the only organ of the body in which all members have equal representation (one member, one vote), reflects the global unanimity on the status of Jerusalem as the future capital of both Palestine and Israel rather than just one dominant state.

The international vote came amid multiple threats by the US President Donald Trump to cut aid for those countries that did not support the position of the US. More, the US ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, had threatened countries before the vote, saying America would remember those who “disrespected” it by voting against.

Mixed Palestinian response

The resolution has triggered a mixed response from Palestinians, with leaders hailing it but public members rejecting it as nothing more than a symbolic ritual.

Palestinian leaders, particularly belonging to the Palestinian Liberation Organization, are known for taking a soft stance against the US and Israel as they survive on the aid provided by these two partners. Over the period PLO leaders have turned themselves into a buffer between the oppressive Israeli state and the oppressed Palestinians.

The spokesman for the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Nabil Abu Rudeina, commented on the decision by stating, “This decision reaffirms once again that the just Palestinian cause enjoys the support of the international community, and no decisions made by any side could change the reality, that Jerusalem is an occupied territory under international law.”

Saeb Erekat, a senior Palestinian diplomat, said it was a day of shame to those who stood shoulder to shoulder with the occupation and settlements against international law.

“But we appreciate very much that the majority of the international community decided, in spite of the threats and intimidation of the US, to stand tall with wisdom, farsightedness, international law and the rule of law – and not the rule of the jungle.”

While political responses have been in this manner, for the common Palestinians the situation remains the same – the resolution only echoes the past betrayals of the Palestinians at the hands of the Israelis and Americans under the facade of the UN. For them the current UNGA resolution is a futile exercise that, just like previous ones, can change nothing on the ground.

Turkish response

Turkey has remained the most vocal against the US decision on Jerusalem. The country’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan repeatedly called the decision as “null and void,” called for an emergency Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meeting and declared that Turkey would open an embassy in East Jerusalem. Observers comment that it was Erdogan’s tough stance on the US that made other Arab countries to respond. On the eve of the UNGA resolution he slammed the US President, “Mr. Trump, you cannot buy Turkey’s democratic will with your dollars. Our decision is clear.”

“I call on the whole world: Don’t you dare sell your democratic struggle and your will for petty dollars. I hope and expect the US won’t get the result it expects from there [the UN] and the world will give a very good lesson to the US,” Erdogan added.

After the successful General Assembly vote Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, who was the co-sponsor of the resolution, wrote on Twitter: “Today, the international community once again showed that dignity and sovereignty are not for sale, and all other co-sponsors thank every country that supported UNGA resolution on Palestine.”

*Written by Waseem Ahad

Republican People’s Party (CHP) asked the government to open a Turkish embassy to Palestine in East Jerusalem. The step, if taken, will be a bold confrontation against the United States that declared Jerusalem the capital of Israel on December 6 – a move that has staggered the entire world.

“Turkey should immediately, without wasting time, open its embassy to Palestine in East Jerusalem,” Engin Altay, CHP’s parliamentary deputy group chairman said while speaking to reporters in parliament.

Speaking on behalf of his party Altay also hailed the decisions of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which recognized East Jerusalem as the occupied capital of Palestine. The Muslim bloc, which was formed in 1969, held an emergency meeting last week following Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s call. The meeting resulted in issuing a declaration recognizing East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine.

Altay criticized the Arab states for being insensitive to Palestinians and failing the cause of Palestine by not being active in their solidarity with the people of Palestine.

Israel and its long-time Western backers, particularly the United States, have historically followed the strategy of exploiting the opportune times that the Middle East offers occasionally. Israel declared Jerusalem its capital in 1980, the time when it had brought most of the corrupt Arab regimes to their knees through war or bribed them into submission. The most remarkable example was when former Egyptian ruler, Anwar Sedat betrayed Palestinians by agreeing with the US and Israel to go for Camp David “peace talks.” In response to the Israeli move, Turkey had closed its Consulate General in Jerusalem as a sign of protest.

For Palestinians, who feel largely abandoned or sold out by their regional “Arab brethren,” the US declaration is one last nail in the coffin. As ever they continue to protest against the American move. Since Trump’s declaration, ten Palestinians have been killed by Israeli armed forces for protesting against the move, including the double amputee, the 29-year-old, Ibrahim Abu Thurayyah. Ibrahim had lost his legs and kidney in Israeli air strikes on Gaza city in 2008. His funeral was held on Saturday along with three other Palestinians who were also shot by Israelis.

Palestinians also rejected US Vice President Mike Pence’s visit to Jerusalem, calling for massive protests. To add fuel to the fire, Pence is visiting Jerusalem on Wednesday after postponing it by three days. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas stated that following Trump’s announcement, he would not meet with the vice president.

Pence will fly from Washington on Tuesday and arrive in Egypt on Wednesday, where he will hold a bilateral meeting with Egyptian military general turned President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, who toppled the democratically elected government of Mohammad Morsi in 2003. Pence will fly to Israel on the same day in the evening to visit the Western Wall soon after his arrival.

On Thursday, he is going to hold a bilateral meeting with the Israeli right wing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, address the Knesset and then have dinner with Netanyahu in the evening at his residence.

Indonesia to “boycott” US products

In many of the countries with large Muslim population including Pakistan, Turkey and Indonesia, protests have been continuing ever since the US move against Palestinians.

In Indonesia, the country with the world’s largest number of Muslim population, civil society groups including Muslim clerics are calling for a boycott of American products. Around 80,000 protesters expressing solidarity with Palestinians assembled outside the US embassy in the capital, Jakarta. Interesting, Gulf States, long suspected of building secret relationships with Israel, have not marked any major protests except few ritualistic statements.

UN Security Council resolution

The UN Security Council is planning to vote on a resolution to reject the US decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

The draft states that “any decisions and actions which purport to have altered, the character, status or demographic composition of the Holy City of Jerusalem have no legal effect, are null and void and must be rescinded in compliance with relevant resolutions of the Security Council.”

The draft resolution submitted by Egypt on Monday is however considered as exercise in vain as it does not mention the name of the United States, leaving Palestinian delegates hopeless. The resolution is also expected to face clear US veto.

*Written by Waseem Ahad. 

In response to US President Donald Trump’s “recognition” of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, Turkish President Erdogan – also acting as the Chair of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation – called for members of the OIC to gather in Istanbul.

During the OIC Jerusalem Meeting, which was held in Istanbul on 13 December, the Turkish President condemned Trump’s decision and claimed this move as a “violation against the historical dignity of Jerusalem.”

Making reference to the unjust systematic regulations of the UN, before proceeding in his speech, Erdogan underlined that while this move was against international law, the US has the power to veto any resolution made by the UN Security Council.

Thanking countries, and the Pope, who retained their support to such a decision, Erdogan stated that “Trump’s decision has only been supported by Israel, which is occupying Jerusalem.”

While underlining that the US decision has only shot dead a so-called “peace process,” the Turkish President presented OIC member states a graphical representation of how the Israeli occupation in Palestine has been growing since 1947.

During various reports from the protests that broke out across the occupied lands, Erdogan made reference to the 14-year-old Fawzi al-Juneidi, who was blindfolded, surrounded by around 20 Israeli soldiers and taken into custody.

Showing member states a picture of Juneidi, Erdogan stated: “In addition to being an occupation state, Israel is a terror state.”

While it is rare for any head of state to call Israel an “occupying” power, let alone “terror state,” Erdogan, referring to the case of Juneidi, asked “How can I not say this, if this is not terror, or occupation, then what is this?”

Listing the crimes committed by the Israeli government, including the increasing illegal settlements, the Turkish President stated “Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel does nothing but award Israel for its occupation policies.”

World doesn’t turn around the US

Referencing that the UN currently has 196 members, the Turkish President further criticized the US administration for assuming that they can make such a decision on their own.

“The UN has 196 members, and the remaining 195 members will react to this decision [to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.]”

“As the US you may be a strong country, you may have nuclear missiles, planes and weapons, but this does not mean that you are strong. You’re only strong if you’re right. If you’re not right, you can never be strong.”

Criticizing Trump for his decision, Erdogan also reminded OIC members that the US has been supporting another terrorist organization in the Middle East – the YPG/PYD – which form the Syrian wing of the PKK – a terrorist organization according to Turkey, the US and European Union.

Meanwhile, Erdogan highlighted that “other issues in the region will not make us forget Palestine” and that “Without finding affair and sustainable solution to the Palestine issue, we cannot talk about peace and stability in the region.”

Acknowledging that Jerusalem is sacred for all three religions – Islam, Christianity and Judaism – President Erdogan repeatedly emphasized that the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Dome of the Rock and the 144 hectares of land in its surroundings belong to the Muslim world.

Finally, before finishing his speech, President Erdogan reminded the Palestinian political sections in occupied Palestine to “solve their problems within themselves and act in unity against this test,” claiming that Palestinian unity has become a “must for them.”

To finish off his words, Erdogan reminded the audience of the words of Selahaddin Eyubbi – the conqueror of Jerusalem: “Those that fight with their friends, cannot beat their enemies.”

No room for US in peace process

Echoing comments made by President Erdogan, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas also insisted that Jerusalem be recognized as the capital of Palestine.

In recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, the US clearly demonstrated its color, which is why Abbas stated “We will never allow the US a role in future peace processes.”

Abbas added that the Palestinians “did not want American mediation anymore.”

The Palestinian president, underlining that Jerusalem “is and will always be the capital of Palestine,” stated that “Peace will not come unless Jerusalem is recognized as Palestine’s capital.”

OIC Secretary General Yousef bin Ahmad Al-Othaimeen also reiterated his call on countries which do not recognize Palestine as a sovereign state to do so.

The OIC final Istanbul communique declared that the bloc recognizes Palestine as a sovereign state, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

While the Muslim world is simmering with the recent announcement of President Trump concerning Jerusalem being the capital of Israel, Arab Gulf states have reportedly been directing their citizens not to participate in any activities with regard to Jerusalem. It’s also reported that the regimes have ordered their media to defuse the Jerusalem issue in their news coverage.

According to a report by Al-Araby Al-Jadeed on December 8, Saudi Arabia ordered its media ‘to limit coverage’ on Trump’s decision on Jerusalem.

Media outlets – bosses of newspapers, television and radio stations – were told not to focus “too much attention” on Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, sources have said.

Under the condition of anonymity, the sources added that the directive ordered the media to “take aim at Iran and other regional countries” instead.

Prior, the kingdom’s most senior religious body, the Supreme Council of Islamic Scholars had released a statement “confirming the great status of Jerusalem.”

This statement focusing on Jerusalem’s religious importance was perceived as disappointing, as it lacked criticism of Trump’s decision and its outcome.

Saudi Arabia had also drawn attention last Thursday when Yisrael Katz – Israeli Minister of Intelligence – speaking to Channel 10, suggested that Trump received a “green light” from Arab leaders before making the controversial decision.

Katz claimed that the US administration was in contact with Arab leaders to ensure their help to contain Palestinian and Arab reaction.

On the objects of Saudi Arabia, Katz underlined that Riyadh has “shared security interests with Israel,” especially on their common foe Iran.

Saudis and Bahrainis urged to stay away from protests

In addition, the Saudi and Bahraini embassies in Jordan warned their citizens against participating in the protests and demonstrations organized against Trump’s decision.

“The embassy calls upon its citizens living in Jordan and its students studying in Jordanian universities to stay away from places of public gatherings and protests in order to protect their safety,” the Saudi embassy in Amman wrote on its official Twitter page.

Citizens were “urged […] to completely avoid areas of public gatherings and protests,” the Bahraini embassy in Amman announced on their official website.

There have been mass protests to condemn President Trump’s decision in countries from all over the world, from the US to Indonesia.

Even in war torn Syria and Yemen, people stood in solidarity with Palestinians and gathered in protests and demonstrations.

In the Gulf countries Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, there were no major protests and their reaction was limited to official statements given by the heads of states.

Protests in Jerusalem continue

In protests that started on Friday after Hamas called for a “day of rage,” two Palestinians were killed and 98 were wounded in clashes with Israeli security forces in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

About 3,000 people demonstrated around the West Bank, including in the cities of Ramallah, Hebron, Tul Karem and Nublus.

Israeli forces responded with live fire, rubber bullets and tear gas. Twenty-eight protesters were arrested.

Among the protestors about hundreds of Palestinians were wounded by rubber bullets, live fire and dozens were treated for tear-gas inhalation, the Palestinian Red Crescent reported.

After tens of thousands of Muslims attended Friday prayers in Al-Aqsa Mosque, a number of protesters have been arrested.

On Thursday, a 16-year old Palestinian boy was detained in the occupied West Bank’s Hebron while going to buy supplies for his family.

“They slammed him to the ground, put their boots on his body and blindfolded him before taking him into custody,” said Wesam al-Hashlamon, who took the photo of the boy being dragged away blindfolded by dozens of Israeli soldiers.

OIC meeting in Istanbul aims a road map on US decision

Right after Trump’s declaration regarding Jerusalem, Turkish President Erdogan, as the current chairman of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation announced that Turkey will host an extraordinary meeting of the OIC in Istanbul.

At the meeting on December 13, Jerusalem will be on the agenda and leaders will come together to coordinate a response to the decision by the Trump administration.

Erdogan announced that leaders of the OIC member states would adopt a road map on the US decision.

Previously Erdogan had also vowed to urge the OIC to cut ties with Israel.

*Written by Suna Nur Sarihan

Muslims across the world continue to protest against Donald Trump’s announcement on December 6, 2017 to declare Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Jerusalem is revered by Muslims as the first Qibla (the direction to which Muslims turn their faces while praying) as well as by Christians.

Protests have spread to a number of Muslim countries in the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, and East Asia.

Palestine has historically been a unifying point for Muslims, and most analysts consider Donald Trump’s announcement last week as a reckless move that can trigger more flames in the already burning Middle East.

In Turkey, whose president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been at the forefront in condemning Trump’s move, calling the decision as “null and void” for Turkey, thousands of people took to the streets in Istanbul with Turkish and Palestinian flags, chanting pro-Palestinian slogans. Erdogan, meanwhile, called a summit of Islamic countries to discuss the Jerusalem issue on Wednesday.

In Indian-occupied Kashmir, the territory which has been fighting for its independence for as long as Palestinians, protesters maintained their traditional approach. As against Indian atrocities, they closed shops and other businesses in protest of the decision.

Bahraini delegation visits Israel

As if to rub salt on wounds, a civil society group comprising people from different religions and sects, on Monday visited Israel at a time when Muslims feel outraged because of the Jerusalem move. The 25-member delegation from the tiny Shiite majority Arab Gulf country defended its five-day long visit as a “gesture of tolerance.” The group includes Sunni and Shiite leaders, Christians, the leader of a Hindu temple, and a Sikh.

However, Palestinians promptly refused to allow the group to enter Gaza for its being as the agent of normalization at a time when Israel has crossed the “red line.”

EU refuses to recognize Jerusalem as Israeli capital

On his trip to Brussels on Monday, Israeli Prime Minister was reminded by the EU’s foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, that Jerusalem is the capital for both Palestine and Israel and that the EU’s stand on the holy city remains unchanged.

Mogherini said, “We believe that the only realistic solution to the conflict between Israel and Palestine is based on two states with Jerusalem as the capital of both.”

*Written by Waseem Ahad 

On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump announced Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Trump stated that the US will relocate the US Embassy in Tel Aviv to Jerusalem – land that the UN Security Council has defined as “occupied” by Israeli settlers. Following his announcement, the US faced criticism from all over the world.

Speaking at the White House, President Trump did what his predecessors were reluctant to do in the past 20 years. As a historic and highly controversial move, the president recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and announced that the US Embassy will be relocated from Tel Aviv to there. This inevitably marks the end of US neutrality on Jerusalem.

“Presidents issued these waivers under the belief that delaying the recognition of Jerusalem would advance the cause of peace,” Trump said.

“After more than two decades of waivers, we are no closer to a lasting peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians,” he added. “It would be folly to assume that repeating the same exact formula would now produce a different or better result.”

“Therefore, I have determined that it is time to officially recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.”

“I am also directing the State Department to begin preparation to move the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. This will immediately begin the process of hiring architects, engineers, and planners, so that a new embassy, when completed, will be a magnificent tribute to peace,” he bizarrely added.

While the US President claims that this is an approach which aims to speed up the “peace-process,” Trump’s decision has done exactly the opposite and has been harshly criticized from many different voices around the world.

Protests in the Middle East

Prior to the president’s announcement, leaders from the Middle East and Turkey have warned Trump that this decision would cause further instability in the region.

The move sparked fury among Palestinians, who immediately took to the streets in the West Bank and East Jerusalem – areas occupied by Israel – began protests by burning flags, pictures and chanting anti-American slogans.

Protesters also took to the streets in Istanbul, Amman (Jordan) and in Egypt’s capital Cairo.

The Palestinian Ministry of Education declared a day off for teachers and students, requesting them to rally and demonstrate in protest of the announcement in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and Palestinian areas in Jerusalem.

On Thursday Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh called for a new “intifada,” or uprising. Haniyeh urged Palestinians, Arabs and Muslims in general to hold rallies on Friday against the US decision, and called this a “day of rage.”

The spokesperson of Hamas said President Trump’s Jerusalem decision “will open the gates of hell on US interests in the region.”

President Erdogan continued to oppose President Trump’s decision, claiming that Jerusalem is home to the worshipping of Muslims, Christians and Jews.

He also stated that “these statements from Trump are serving only as a ‘mixer.’ It’s about mixing, not reconciling. If Mr. Trump says ‘I am strong, then I am right,’ he is wrong. Being strong does not mean being right. He should know that.”

While Presidential Spokesman Ibrahim Kalin announced that the Organization of Islamic Cooperation will come together in Istanbul on December 13 to discuss the future of Jerusalem, Pope Francis has also been invited to the meeting.

The issue of recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital is not only a matter for Muslims, as the city is also home to Jews and Christians. According to sources from the Presidential Complex, Erdogan and Pope Francis agreed that “any attempt to change Jerusalem’s status should be avoided.”

The recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital was the most discussed topic on social media – on Twitter, users reacted to Trump’s decision using various hashtags, including #KuduseSahipCik and #AlQuds.

US asks Israel to temper response to Jerusalem move

Amid these reactions, according to Reuters, a State Department document dated to  December 6, states that the US requested for Israel to restrain its response in regards to the recognition of Jerusalem as its capital.

“While I recognize that you will publicly welcome this news, I ask that you restrain your official response,” the document stated.

The release of this document to diplomats in the US Embassy in Tel Aviv is reflective of the fact that Washington expected a backlash, and illustrates that the US administration fears any potential threat to US facilities.

“We expect there to be resistance to this news in the Middle East and around the world. We are still judging the impact this decision will have on U.S. facilities and personnel overseas,” the document said.

Many political analysts noted that the last time such a document was released was just before the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

Embassies on alert

US embassies in the Middle East and Europe warned American travelers or people living there of the possibility of protests.

Right after minutes of Trump’s announcement, US embassies located in Turkey, Jordan, Britain and Germany issued security alerts urging Americans to be cautious of large surroundings and mass protests.

The US Embassy in Amman, was closed to the public on Thursday and banned employees from leaving the capital. While all Americans were advised to keep a low profile, children of embassy employees have been told to stay home.

Why and why now?

While there is a lot of focus on the outcry Trump’s decision has caused, there is not much about the reason “why” President Trump made this decision.

Only five days ago about 20 thousand Israelis had protested in the “March of shame” in Tel Aviv against government corruption and PM Benjamin Netanyahu, who is under criminal investigation over allegations of abuse of office and continues to deny any wrongdoing.

Netanyahu is suspected to have accepted gifts from wealthy businessman and negotiating a deal with a newspaper owner for better coverage in return for curbs on a rival daily.

For Trump this seems to be an important step towards gaining the sympathy of AIPAC and the Jewish lobby – supporters of his presidential campaign last year.

On top of the current discussions about Russian interference in US elections, sexual harassment scandals about Trump and the Michael Flynn-FBI case it seems logical that Trump tries to distract the public, while shining as a President who keeps his promises.

The mere fact is that the US, as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, tramples down the decisions made in the UN and thus opened the Pandora’s box.

*Written by Suna Nur Sarihan. 

The White House said that President Trump will announce that the United States recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and that the US Embassy in Tel Aviv will be moved to Jerusalem.

According to Anadolu Agency three senior White House officials whose names were not disclosed evaluated Trump’s current Jerusalem accounts for the press via teleconference on Tuesday.

The President is expected to announce that the United States recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and is expected explain to the Department of State that he will instruct the US embassy in Tel Aviv to begin preparations for the relocation to Jerusalem.

However the relocation of the US embassy is likely to take years because to find a site, address security concerns, design, fund and finally build a new facility is not an instantaneous process.

White House Spokeswoman Sarah Sanders announced that Trump will announce his decision on the move of the US Embassy in Tel Aviv to Jerusalem on Wednesday (December 6, 2017). President Trump is expected to make his announcement at 1 p.m. in Washington.

One official stressed that certain regions in East Jerusalem are still considered “occupied Palestinian territories” and that “this decision of the President does not suggest a change in the judicial issues in question.” Claiming that the President’s decision is not going to influence the boundaries of sovereignty, he added that these issues are in the domain of the negotiation process.

Trump recently had phone calls with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Jordan’s King Abdullah, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, and King Salman of Saudi Arabia to discuss potential decisions regarding Jerusalem.

Netanyahu has remained silent and in his first public appearance after the Jerusalem dispute, Netanyahu outlined Israel’s economic strengths and international outreach in a conference, emphasizing the importance of ties with the United States but refrained from making any statements about Trump’s Jerusalem announcement.

US objectives remain unclear

Although Trump’s announcement was not unexpected since his presidential campaign last year, it has prompted a wave of negative reactions from governments and political groups throughout the world.

The question mainly asked is why the US is dealing with this question at this particular moment and why Trump went against the “tradition” of his precedes in delaying such a controversial dispute by signing waivers every 6 months.

Although the senior Trump administration officials say that Trump’s decision is not intended to favor Israel and that a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians will be essential on the final status of Jerusalem, it is perceived differently by the international community.

Although the direct political benefits for Trump administration are unclear, the decision is pleasing for Republican conservatives and evangelical Christians, a large portion of Trump’s political base.

Analysts suppose that Trump needs all support he can get and accordingly tries to please the Israeli lobby in the US.

While assuring the inner support for Trump, the decision is conflicting with Trump’s so called desire for a more stable Middle East and Israel-Palestinian peace.

To move the US embassy to Jerusalem – while there are no other embassies – set off alarm bells around the Middle East and the Muslim world, raising the prospect of violence.

Biased resolution in the US House of Representatives

Amid all developments the US House of Representatives voted to reduce the annual $300 million US aid to the Palestinian authority unless it takes some necessary measures according to Reuters.

The measure plans to prevent the Palestinian authorities from paying “martyr payments” to the families of Palestinians killed or jailed by the Israeli authorities – payments which can reach $3,500 per month.

Before the vote, Republican Representative Ed Royce claimed that the rewards get greater the longer the jail sentence is or the more brutal the act of killing is.

The measure, which will become law once it is passed by the US Senate and signed by President Trump, again raised questions about the timing while another big discussion is still to be concluded about the final status of Jerusalem.

World reacts

Although the EU, Turkey and the Arab World are full of disagreement on various issues, the US announcement to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel has brought them together on the same ground.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s words “Jerusalem is a red line for Muslims,” summoned up the general opinion for the whole Muslim world on a decision unacceptable for Muslims.

“While the wounds of the Palestinian people continue to bleed and every day there are violations of rights and oppressions, such a decision to support Israel is not only a violation of international law, but also a severe disgrace to humanity,” he said.

Questioning the timing of these declarations while more important issues such as the war in Syria and the fight against Daesh is still continuing, President Erdogan warned that ignoring the “inviolability” of Jerusalem for Muslims would lead to “serious consequences” – leading to the break of relations between Turkey and Israel.

Erdogan’s strict position was appreciated by Hamas.

Abu Zuhri, senior spokesman for the Hamas told Anadolu Agency, “This unique position of the Turkish authorities and noble Turkish people is a reflection of the leadership and its support of the cause of the Palestinian people.”

While Erdogan’s comments regarding Jerusalem’s importance for the Muslim world have been applauded on a broad spectrum, Israeli ministers have sincerely personalized the issue.

Israel’s Education Minister Naftali Bennet responded to Erdogan by saying “Erdogan does not miss an opportunity to attack Israel. Israel will advance its goals, including the recognition of united Jerusalem as the capital of the state of Israel. Jerusalem has been the Jewish capital for three thousand years, it was never and will never be the capital of anyone else.”

“There is always going to be someone to criticize but at the end of the day it’s better to have a united Jerusalem than Erdogan’s sympathy,” Bennett added.

Interestingly, Bennet’s comments were solely focused on the reaction from Turkey – with no reference to various outcries the US decision caused across the world.

Prime Minister of Turkey Binali Yildirim stated that US’ decision would be an unlawful one, and will put the problems in the region into an incomprehensible stage.

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu made a statement after meeting US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in Brussels. The Turkish FM stated, “It would be a big mistake to move the US embassy to Jerusalem, the whole world is against it”.

Palestinian groups, including Hamas and Fatah, have issued a joint statement calling on the Palestinian people to “gather in front of the city centers, the US Consulates and embassies” and react to the US plan.

In explanations, the young people from the Intifada in the West Bank were urged to respond to the US plan through possible means.

The Arab Parliamentarians’ Executive Committee described the plan as invalid, “This initiative removes the possibility of peace altogether by violating the rights of the Palestinian people who are registered with international law.”

Saudi King Salman emphasized that Saudi Arabia is in support of Palestinians and their historical rights.

Pointing out the importance of the region and Masjid al-Aqsa as the first sacred place, he warned Trump that any change in Jerusalem’s status would harm peace negotiations and increase tensions in the region.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamanei, while still being in an unresolved dispute with the Saudis, made clear that Tehran is against the plan of the US, coming to mutual grounds with its foe.

Federica Mogherini, the High Representative of the European Union External Relations and Security Policy, stressed the importance of the peace process between Israel and Palestine suggested that for the fulfillment of all parties expectations Jerusalem should be the capital of both states.

Similar statements have been made by various other states such as France, Germany, Russia, and even by Pope Francis – all underlining that such a decision would undermine peace efforts and potentially evoke protests in the whole region.

Accordingly the White House urged all the US embassies in largely Muslim populated countries to take precautions for protests and unrests in addition the US Consulate General in Jerusalem warned Americans to avoid “areas where crowds have gathered and where there is an increased police and/or military presence.”

*Written by Suna Nur Sarihan. 

In the past weeks, President Donald Trump was reported to be considering recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and moving the US embassy in Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

However according to the White House President Trump postponed the announcement of the embassy and will –  while he signs a waiver to keep the US embassy in Tel Aviv for another six months – announce Jerusalem as Israel’s capital – a move long awaited by Israel.

Jerusalem is claimed by Israel as its seat of government. But since the international community sees it as an issue to be settled as part of a broader peace agreement, no foreign embassies are located in Jerusalem.

The announcement which was expected to be made this week followed the debates that started with first statements after Trump’s meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before the presidential elections, and grew particularly intense in recent days.

A move by Trump to recognize Jerusalem will not only anger Palestinians but the broader Muslim world as well.

It is likely to completely halter the effort to restart long-stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, while pleasing Israel and satisfying the pro-Israel base that supported him on his way to presidency.

Palestine’s Response

Amid the recent reports of Trump’s consideration, Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas met with a delegation from the Democracy Front for Equality and Peace in Ramallah.

President Abbas warned the US that such a move would jeopardize the future of political process in the region and is unacceptable for Palestine as well as other Arab countries.

“Any step that the US takes to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital or to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem would endanger the future of the political process,” he said during the meeting.

Hamas’ political chief Ismail Haniyeh also called for the unity among Palestinian groups against US’ move that was described as “very risky”.

Palestine’s official news agency WAFA reported on Sunday that the Palestinian leader has also spoken to many world leaders and sent statements to the African Union, the Arab League, Organization of Islamic Cooperation as well as the UN, the US, Russia, and the EU about the prevention of US’ plan to relocate its embassy in Israel which would “ax the peace process.”

Trump’s campaign pledge on Jerusalem last year

Trump had first pledged to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s “undivided capital” once he was elected, after his private meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu just before his first presidential debate with Hillary Clinton.

“Trump acknowledged that Jerusalem has been the eternal capital of the Jewish people for over 3,000 years, and that the US, under a Trump administration, will finally accept the long-standing congressional mandate to recognize Jerusalem as the undivided capital of the state of Israel,” his campaign office said in a statement.

With no reference to the pledge by Trump, a statement released by Netanyahu’s office read: “Prime Minister Netanyahu discussed with Mr. Trump issues relating to Israel’s security and its efforts to achieve stability and peace in the Middle East.”

When Israel captured the Arab eastern half of Jerusalem during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war and annexed it in 1980, it declared all of Jerusalem Israel’s unified capital.

Israel’s move was not recognized internationally – by states such as the United States and most other United Nations member countries.

Therefore, Jerusalem’s final status continues to be a key issue to be resolved in peace negotiations with the Palestinians.

During the presidency of Bill Clinton in 1995, the US Congress passed a law calling for the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and the authorization of moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

But no US president, Democrat or Republican, has implemented the law – insisting that it is a matter that must be decided in peace negotiations between the countries.

Instead, since 1998 every president has signed a waiver every six months in the name of national security upon seeing the complexity of the situation; so did Trump back in June.

Outcomes of a possible decision

Trump seems to have understood why his predecessors have signed waivers every six months instead of making the radical step of relocating the US embassy, a controversial step since the eastern part of the city is Palestinian territory being illegally occupied by Israel.

Jerusalem has remained at the core of the Israel-Palestine conflict for decades, as Palestinians want Israeli-occupied East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state and Israel’s claim on all of the city is not recognized by the international community.

However, even the decision to declare Jerusalem as Israel’s capital without ordering an embassy move, is expected to spark an international uproar especially in the Muslim world.

The president is surely aware of the damage to US relations with Muslim countries after a possible declaration.

The opposition against such a move has been loudest among the Arab leaders; some accusing the US President of “playing with fire” and Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit saying it will fuel “extremism.”

According to Reuters news agency, Jordan has begun consultations on convening an emergency meeting of the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation before the US President’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

Jordan is expected to invite members of the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to “discuss ways of dealing with the consequences of such a decision that raised alarm and concern.”

*Written by Suna Nur Sarihan.